Fire service is happy with its blaze response
THE Scottish Fire and Rescue Service says it is happy with its response to the blaze which gutted two homes in the tiny lochside village of Ardgour last Thursday.
Four appliances rushed to the scene, including two from Fort William, after the alarm was raised at 1.41pm.
There were no casualties, but the two properties sustained severe structural damage, with one almost being razed to the ground by the flames.
There had been some comments locally about the length of time it took fire crews from Fort William to reach the burning houses.
However, a spokesman for the SFRS told the Lochaber Times that senior officers were ‘happy’ with the response of all the crews involved.
There had also been reports that one fire engine from Fort William was recalled before it reached Ardgour only to be sent back to the incident.
The fire crews from Fort William have to take their appliances across to Ardgour using the Corran ferry.
However, the SFRS says this was probably referring to the appliance that returned to the properties later that day following reports of further steam or smoke being spotted.
A further report that low water pressure at the scene had forced fire crews to use water from the loch, resulting in seaweed blocking hoses, also appears incorrect, with the SFRS spokesman saying: ‘There were no issues reported. Each appliance carried a full tank of water if needed but there was no problem with water pressure reported.’
There has also been an outpouring of praise for the way the local community has rallied round to support the two sets of householders involved.